Friday, October 10, 2008

Veronica Sotomayor has upset another major Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) player, as she defeated Christie Van Hees Friday at the Canadian Racquetball Classic in Edmonton, Alberta, winning 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-8.

Sotomayor, 16, is an unbelievable player. Thin, yet she puts plenty of power behind the ball. But it's the accuracy of her shots that's more impressive. Shot after shot was rolling out. The only hitch for her in the match was that she started missing shots in the middle of game four, and that continued for a few points in game five.

But then she got it back, and after being down 4-2, went out to lead 7-5, 10-6, and finished at 11-8. Very impressive.

Next up for Sotomayor in the quarter finals is another veteran, Cheryl Gudinas Holmes. Gudinas Holmes defeated Frédérique Lambert, who had to retire at the end of the third game due to an injury with her left leg. Hopefully, it's not serious, as Lambert is on Canada's Junior National Team for the Junior World Championships in Tempe, Arizona in December.

The only other upset in the Round of 16 was Jennifer Saunders's victory over Jo Shattuck, 11-6, 11-2, 11-9. Shattuck had a large lead in game three at 8-1, but Saunders dug in and worked her way back into that game to take the match in three straight games.

Saunders will now face WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich, who she was up two games to one against last month in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Rasjich had a slow start against Véronique Guillemette, losing game one, but came back strong to win in four games, 10-12, 11-0, 11-5, 11-8.